Time for action on Endometriosis Care
Labour’s health spokesperson, Marie Sherlock TD, has called on Government to deliver timely care for people with endometriosis. Marking Endometriosis Awareness Month, Deputy Sherlock has called for the immediate publication of the long-promised National Framework for Endometriosis, which was due in April 2024, and urged action to ensure that new regional hubs are appropriately staffed.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“Endometriosis affects one in ten women, yet Ireland’s services have historically been woefully inadequate. The average time to receive a diagnosis is an appalling seven years, which can leave women waiting years with debilitating pain, chronic fatigue, nausea, and fertility issues. This is a serious condition that can have life-altering consequences, but there are simply too few specialists in this area.
“The failure to provide adequate services in Ireland is forcing women abroad for care. We know that between 100 and 150 Irish women travel to Romania each year for specialist endometriosis surgery. But this may be just the tip of the iceberg. A parliamentary question I submitted has confirmed that the State does not officially record the number of women travelling for specialist endometriosis treatment. Patients using the Cross-Border Directive are categorised under general gynaecology, pain management, or urology, meaning the true scale of the problem is completely unknown.
“We sincerely welcome the development of regional hubs for endometriosis care, but good intentions are not enough – we need firm commitments on resources and staffing. These centres must be fully resourced with multidisciplinary teams, including gynaecologists, specialist surgeons, and urologists, all working together under one roof.
“The National Framework for Endometriosis was due to be published in April 2024. We are now in March, and there is still no sign of it. The Minister for Health must confirm immediately when this long-overdue plan will be published and outline exactly how the Government intends to improve endometriosis services.”